Kent State reaches first CWS with ninth inning win

Published: June 12, 2012 3:00AM

Kent State claimed its first-ever trip to the College World Series, scoring the deciding run following a base on balls, a bunt and a bloop.

Senior shortstop Jimmy Rider knocked in the game-winning run with a one-out single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Golden Flashes to a dramatic 3-2 win over the Oregon Ducks in the third and deciding game of their pulsating best-of-three super regional at PK Park in Eugene Monday night.

Kent State (46-18) is scheduled to play its first-ever College World Series game Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. in Omaha, Neb.

West Branch graduate and junior center fielder Evan Campbell factored in the ninth-inning rally with a sacrifice bunt en route to an 0-for-3 night at the plate with a walk.

Second baseman Derek Toadvine opened the ninth inning with a leadoff walk off Oregon closer Jimmie Sherfy. Campbell pushed a bunt to the left of the mound which Sherfy fielded cleanly and threw to first for the out, but Toadvine advanced to second.

Rider walked to the plate with a .362 batting average, one out and the winning run in scoring position.

After dropping the ball into fair territory near the foul line, he rounded first and watched the speedy Toadvine race across the plate with the winning run.

Left-hander Brian Clark, the third Kent State pitcher, was credited with the win. Sherfy took the loss for Oregon (47-19), which was seeking its first College World Series trip since 1954.

Kent State struck quickly, scoring one run on three hits in the first inning. T.J. Sutton, a sophomore right fielder from GlenOak, collected the key hit, a two-out run-scoring single to left field, plating Rider to make it 1-0.

The Golden Flashes chased Oregon starting pitcher Jeff Gold in the second inning, increasing their lead to 2-0.

Sawyer Polen and Alex Miklos singled to left field to open the frame and Toadvine beat out a bunt down the third-base line, loading the bases with nobody out. Campbell bounced into a doubleplay, but Polen scored. After David Lyon walked, Gold was yanked for reliever Brando Tessar.

Gold was anything but golden against the Golden Flashes, working just 12⁄3 innings and yielding two runs on six hits.

Conversely, Kent State starter Tyler Skulina and reliever Casey Wilson combined to shut out Oregon on two hits through the first seven innings.

Skulina, a 6-7 right-hander from Walsh Jesuit, worked the first 52⁄3 innings and battled out of several jams. He allowed both hits, walked three, hit two batters and struck out four.

Staying persistent, Oregon tied the game in the eighth inning. J.J. Altobelli opened the inning with a single to center off Wilson. Left-hander Brian Clark replaced Wilson and walked leadoff batter Aaron Payne. Following a sacrifice bunt, Healy singled to right field, driving in both runs.

Clark escaped without further damage, setting the stage for Toadvine, Campbell and Rider to execute small ball and lift Kent State to its biggest win in school history.